Perfect Plants

Calatheas come in various lovely leaf shapes and patterns.Pictured here is Calathea amabilis. Its lovely striped leaves have burgundy undersides, sold sometimes as Sromanthe amabilis or Ctenanthe amabilis. All are members of the maranta family (Marantaceae).

Like many plants, calatheas are very good at removing toxins from the air, caused by cleaning products, modern furnishings made of synthetic materials and so on.

Keep them in medium light, not direct sunlight, water moderately, keep them at normal room temnperatures and feed half strength plant food every fortnight during spring and summner. Do mist them to provide humidity.

Click here or on picture above to link to more calathea amabilis plant facts

Peperomias also come in a huge variety of leaf colours shapes and patterns. This one is Peperomia caperata 'Schumni Red' which is extremely similar to 'Red Luna'.

They like semi-shade and temperatures beween 15° and 22° C. Do not mist the crinkly leaves varieties and water only when the soil has dried out or you will rot the roots and the fleshy stems.